Recently AOL (Who Developed the Patch Brand) decided to hand off Patch to another entity, an Investment Firm called Hale Global. This move was finalized on January 15th of this year and included the immediate Elimination of hundreds of Positions at all Levels thus leaving most Patch Websites leaderless and in a state of Static Content (Non Changing).
Honestly it was a move which I had hoped would never come even though I knew Patch wasn't doing too good behind the Scenes. Actually I take that back, Local News, was always strong but the issues arose when a bunch of suits decided the business model was all about return profit instead of the core mission.
Patch had numerous issues prior to it's selling, but now all these issues have become compounded in my opinion by Hale Globals Leadership.
Often as is the case here, the new players will show up and begin making drastic changes to to a Brand and next thing you know that Brand is a shell of it's former self.
One thing which Patch had already been doing prior to it's trade off, was having a Single Editor run up to 5 or more Patch Websites at one time. Now in the beginning Patch was all about Local News, with Local Reporters who lived in or near the cities they covered. At some point this became less common, however.
Prior to Patch coming along, I had been a one man Army, initially covering the City of Newark, then Fremont and Union City. In 2009 I decided to branch out and start reporting on local stuff other than Crime. During my brief stint, I learned that I sucked as a "Reporter", however when it came to getting "The Shot" I always brought my "A" game.
When Newark Patch descended upon the Local Scene toward the end of 2010 I considered it a relief because now a Professional News Team, who had legit training and many more resources than I did would be taking over.
Although I no longer felt obligated to report much anymore, I still provided my expertise when needed. Patch Employees treated me as an Equal something which Journalists from other Local News Agencies refused to do because they were legit and I wasn't.
Newark Patches first Editor Kris Vera Phillips and I would share information about Local Incidents. After she left Patch for greener Pastures only Months after settling in, her successor Nika Megino and I got along famously. Nika was how I became a Patch Blogger, and later a Member of the Patch Engagement Council.
Unlike Kris, Nika had actually been a former Newark Resident and attended Newark Memorial High School around the same time I did. Home Grown Peeps really are the way to go when reporting in a Jurisdiction because not only do they know the town Dynamics but they also know the lay of the land and what makes that town tick.
Sadly, for whatever reason Nika also left Patch last year shortly after the Patch Website Re-design was implemented. Zoneil, shortly took over momentarily which was amazing because he already was covering his Primary town which was Union City and Fremont.
Eventually Vanessa Castañeda was appointed the new Newark Patch Editor in fall of 2013. Although Vanessa wasn't Local (Concord Patch) she did a pretty good job of Reporting on what transpired here in Newark, even with the City Gov and Police Department doing what they do best - Stonewalling.
It's February 7th, a Patch Revolt has begun, users from other Patch sites have taken to voice their disdain for New Patch while Newark Patch just like many other semi defunct Patch Websites still lack a Editor although in the past several days New Content has been delivered, from two different Editors. One in Pleasanton & the other in Southern California, both of which aren't Local.
I've been here since the beginning and watched four highly Creative and Charismatic individuals come and report the Local News with varying degrees of Passion. These people cared and gave a damn, something which no longer seems to exist within the Patch Network.
I used to believe in Patch's core Goals and Mission, and believed it had great potential and it did once upon a time. Those days are over, now.
It's my Opinion that there should be no "Business" in News, Businesses & Corporations do nothing but ruin great ideas all in the name of Greed and Politics. I also believe that Local News should be maintained & operated by Residents within the Community covered.
Going forward, I'm seriously contemplating revisiting my One Man Army days, Reporting on Newark myself. I've actually been reporting on Public Safety Incidents on my own Website for sometime now, but I'm thinking of going full on News Gatherer. After all if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself!
Either way, if you need me you can find me at http://www.sehd510.com
It's time to blow this Popsicle stand!
P.S My previous Content can stay until the end, let it be a reminder of what Patch USED to be.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
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